Tour: Belknap Mill Society

November is Arts and Culture Month!

Guests will be provided a history of the Belknap Mill, placed in context of the industrial revolution, the immigration of the area, and the role the Belknap Mill played in the development of the community. Guests will experience the Power House, its connection to the Winnipesaukee River, and the Knitting Room, which includes examples of knitting machines as well as a replica ‘mini-mill’ that demonstrates how the Belknap Mill would have functioned when it was in full operation as a textile manufacturing mill.

Tour Date: November 1st, 10:00 – 3:15 pm

Arrival time: 9:30 am – coffee, water and light refreshment will be provided upon arrival at 9:30.

Eligibility: Must have served 50 volunteer service hours

How Many GSAs Can Attend: 25

Uniform: GSA uniform. No purses or bags allowed on tour – leave them in your car trunk. You can bring a small cross-body purse, a waist pack, GSA cinch pack, or your new GSA neck wallet. Wear comfortable shoes.

Accessibility: Part 1: Some walking – walking tour through the 1st floor of the Belknap Mill. Part 2: Walking downtown

Mask Policy: We would ask that guests please wear a mask while indoors during the tour. There are disposable masks available at our reception desk.

Parking: On-site – ample parking in the municipal parking lot adjacent to the Mill.

Start Address: Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon Street East, Laconia, NH 03246

We have a last minute change to the Belknap Mill tour. We decided that we needed to highlight Laconia’s downtown while we were there. It’s really something special so we reached out to the chamber. Karmen was able to add to our day to extend it to 3:15pm.

*** I know many of you planned to be done at noon. If you cannot stay until 3:15pm, please let me know ASAP and I’ll add some afternoon only slots to the tour for other GSAs. Actually, please confirm either way if you are in for the full day or half day.

Downtown Laconia GSA Fam Tour
Monday, November 1, 2021 –  Arts & Culture Month

9:30 am    Coffee at Belknap Mill
25 Beacon St East, Laconia, NH 03246

10am – Noon    Tour Belknap Mill Society (Karen Prior)

Walking tour up Main Street

Guided by Lakes Region Chamber (Karmen Gifford & Joanne Haight)

Noon        Lunch Options On Your Own

• Soda Shoppe (30 Beacon St East) breakfast, lunch, sandwiches, comfort foods
  GoodNatured Juice & Smoothie Bar (569 Main St) juice, smoothies, salads/bowls
  Wayfarer Coffee (626 Main St) coffee, in-house waffles
  Fresh Takes Deli (653 Main St) grab & go items, sandwiches, salads
  Burrito Me (in Railroad Station) burritos, tacos, nachos, salads
  Trillium Farm to Table (62 Canal St) sammies, greens, grain bowls, other noshes

1:00 pm    Introduction to Rail Bike Adventures at the Laconia Railroad Station (Paul Giblin)

1:45 pm   Tour of The CAKE Theater (Chaos & Kindness/Recycled Percussion) at 12 Veterans Square (Melissa Aupperle)

2:30 pm    Tour of Colonial Theatre-Laconia at 609 Main St (Jake Crumb)

Tips: It is not necessary to tip. However, we do have a ‘Donation Bell’ in the Mill’s lobby. All funds from the ‘Donation Bell’ are used to support children’s programming. The Belknap Mill is fortunate to have a Holbrook bell housed in our cupola. The bell was cast by George Holbrook who was apprenticed to Paul Revere.

Weather: Tour is not weather dependent. If folks would like to walk along the river after the tour, we would recommend dressing accordingly and consider bringing an umbrella if raining.

Tour Contact: Part 1:Karen Prior, Belknap Mill Society, Executive Director
Part 2: Lakes Region Chamber (Karmen Gifford & Joanne Haight)

GSA Contact: Emily McMaster, emily@nhgsa.com

Website: www.belknapmill.org

We are looking forward to partnering with the Belknap Mill Society!